-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Anna Tsuchiya is one of Japan 's most recognized young stars .

Model , mother , actress and singer : Tsuchiya is living her life her own way .

Born in Tokyo in 1984 to a Japanese mother and an American father , as a teenager , Anna started modeling , gracing the pages of fashion magazines . That later led to an acting career , starring in such movies as `` Kamikaze Girls '' and `` Sakuran . ''

Taking on non-traditional female roles is something Tsuchiya enjoys , as mush because it fits in with here own self image as a bit of an outsider .

`` It 's fun to act that kind of character who is said by others to be a ` bad girl ' but in fact she has a good heart , and that fits me , '' she told CNN 's Kyung Lah .

`` It would be good if many people could establish good relations in their dealings with others by pure and genuine relations rather than what is on the surface . That is the reason I am fond of acting such characters . ''

More recently , Anna been taking to the stage , as a punk rock singer .

`` My music might have an image of being ` hard ' but in fact it expresses human emotions . So it is different from the surface image and it expresses deeper messages which have emerged from inside , '' she said .

With her twin career as actress and singer , she has become something of a role model for young Japanese , especially as her life and work are far removed from the traditional role for Japanese women .

`` There is an image of women by which someone dictates how it should be . Nobody could say ` yes ' to that image as the right model . We only get one life . I am a woman but I am doing and want to do things that I feel are cool , '' she told CNN .

Since becoming a mother three years ago , Tsuchiya has developed a more mature attitude to life : `` What has changed very much is that I before I had my baby I lived just for myself . But now the child is more important than myself . ''

Her more sanguine attitude was compounded by tragedy when her ex-husband died in May 2008 .

`` Death is a sad thing but it has to happen and time can never be reversed . I happen to think that when I die I do n't want to see people around weeping forever . I think he would have felt the same way , '' she told CNN .

`` So if I had been caught up with sorrow he would have been upset . Rather than being overcome , I say I accept the reality . ''

Despite the setback and tragedies , with Tsuchiya 's unique career in the ascendancy , her future looks bright .

@highlight

Anna Tsuchiya is one of Japan 's most recognizable actresses and singers

@highlight

Born and raised in Tokyo by Japanese mother and Polish-American father

@highlight

Started as a model and moved into acting before launching musical career